Packaging short filler tobacco



Patented Mar. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PACKAGING SHORT FILLER TOBACCO Germany Application July 9, 1935, Serial No. 30,505 In Germany July 7, 1934 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for use in packaging short filler tobacco.

It is a known practice in the art to deposit short filler tobacco by means of a suction head or the like in a. horizontal trough the width of which corresponds to the length of the ller to be formed. A plunger working in this channel pushes the deposited tobacco into position where a second plunger working vertically presses the tobacco into the final filler form.

rlhe tobacco in the trough is positioned by vibration produced by any suitable means, such as the swinging flap shown in the present illustration.

There is a particular problem arising in the case where it is desired to form a ller of even cross section throughout itslength, as in the iiller of cigars of corona formation. This shape requires that the tobacco be uniformly distributed transversely across the entire width of the trough. Accordingly the present invention is intended to accomplish a more even distribution of the filler than has been heretofore possible.

An object of the present invention is, therefore,

to feed uniformly the tobacco into a press box to fill the press box entirely transversely.

Another object is to provide means for distributing the filler tobacco before admitting it to the press box.

A further object is to clean the tobacco on the suction head from stems and the like.

A still further object is to utilize a single suction head for holding the tobacco for cleaning and to carry the cleaned tobacco to the feed hopper.

Another object is to provide a vibrating distributing plate which has downwardly diverging ribs and channels for receiving the tobacco ller and spreading the same as it moves downwardly 0 over the plate.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the same.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken through the machine on the line III- III of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a detail face view of the distribut- 55 ing plate.

Figure 5 is an edge elevation of the same.

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken thro-ugh the lower portion of the distributing plate on the line VI-VI of Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings the machine is 5 provided with a press box 2 having side walls I, I and an end plunger 2t. The press box is provided thereover with a transversely extending swinging vane I9 which projects down into the box and is. normally biased to swing toward the plunger 20, as shown in dotted lines in Figure l. There is then formed between the plunger 20 and the Vane I9 a compartment above which is disposed the chute 3 extending substantially the entire width of the press box 2.

The upper end o-f the chute opens to form the hopper 4 adapted to receive the tobacco from the suction head 5. The suction head 5 swings to pick up tobacco stock from a suitable bin, carry it across a cleaning mechanism or picker roll I5 in the bin and discharge it into the hopper 4. The discharged tobacco is directed onto a distributing plate 0 pivoted at its upper end on a hinge l to swing with respect to the hopper. The plate 6` is given a vibratory motion on its hinge 'I by means of the eccentric 8 driving through the shoe I mounted at the lower portion of the plate and projecting from the under side thereof. The eccentric 8 is mounted on a transverse shaft 9 supported by the bracket Ill and driven by a pulley II over which passes the belt I2 leading from the pulley I3 mounted on a second transverse shaft I4 disposed in the stock bin and which is driven by a drive belt Il passing over the pulley I6 and driven from any suitable source. The shaft I4 carries the picking roll I5A which is disposed in the path of the swinging suction head 5 and adapted to clean the stems and the like from the leaves held against said suction head.

Referring particularly to Figures 4, 5 and 6 the distributing plate 6 is provided with a spreading member composed of a plate I8 which is crimped to provide downwardly diverging ribs I8b spaced apart to provide alternate corresponding grooves. The plate I8 is secured to the distributing plate 6 by any suitable means such as by the clamping bolt I8a, as shown. An advantage of providing the separate plate I8 pivoted on the distributing plate 6 is that the spreading surface comprising the ribs and grooves may be adjusted to deflect the tobacco more to one side or the other in order to take care of inequalities in the tobacco stock caused by difference in widths or weights or the like.

Cab

In operation the suction head 5 picks stock tobacco from the bin and carries it to the hopper 4. In its passage toward the hopper the suction head 5 together with its load of tobacco passes across the picker roll I5, which is driven at high speed, the pins of which clean,

the tobacco of dangling stems and the like. Upon arrival in position over the hopper 4 the suction is released and the tobacco permitted to fall upon the distributing plate 6 which is vi brating under the force of the eccentric 8. By its motion and the downwardly diverging ribs on its face the plate 6 acts to distribute evenly the tobacco across the entire width of the chute 3. From the chute 3 the tobacco is deposited into the compartment at the: end of the press box where the swinging vane I9 acts to swing under the pressure of the falling tobacco and further distribute and settle it. The plunger 20 is then operated to move the settled ller into the opposite end of the press box, in which position it can be nally pressed and packaged.

What is claimed is:-

l. A tobacco packaging apparatus comprising a hopper and pressing box, and a vibratory distributing plate in the hopper provided on its face with spreader ribs.

2. A tobacco packaging apparatus comprising a hopper and pressing box, and a distributing plate in the hopper provided on its fade with adjustable spreader ribs.

3. A tobacco packaging apparatus comprising a hopper and pressing box, and a downwardly inclined distributing plate in the hopper composed of a backing plate and a face plate provided with ribs diverging downwardly, said face plate being pivotally secured to said backing plate. I

4. In a tobacco packaging machine a tobacco bin, a hopper, a suction head movable between said bin and hopper to transport tobacco therebetween, and a tobacco cleaning means interposed in the path of the said suction head.

5. In a tobacco packaging machine a tobacco bin, a hopper, a suction head movable between said bin and hopper to transport tobacco therebetween, and a tobacco cleaning means comprising a toothed power driven roller interposed in the path of the said suction head to remove depending material from the tobacco carried by said head.

6. A tobacco packaging apparatus comprising a hopper and pressing box, and a vibratory distributing plate in the hopper provided on its face with downwardly diverging spreader ribs, said plate being disposed at a downward incline in the hopper.

FRANZ HEINRICH BEN'NO STELZER. 

